Cumru is both rural and suburban close to major East Coast metros
About 5 miles south of Reading, Cumru is a blend of suburbs, rural farmland and city living in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Located near golf courses and state forests, this community has outdoor activities within reach of Reading's shopping and dining scene. However, the region has a stellar reputation for being within driving distance of major East Coast cities. "We're an hour from Philly, two hours to the shore, Baltimore and New York City. You don't have to pay big city prices, but you still have the flexibility of getting there," says Mark Chaknos, a Reading local and broker at Keller Williams Platinum Realty. "It's a great place to live. Metropolitan prices are double, so the cost of living is very nice."
Multi-acre properties with forest and farmland
Narrow two-way roads wind through the rolling hills, surrounded by dense softwood forests. Many properties include multi-acre lots with New Traditional and farm-style houses, ranging from $190,000 to $1.2 million. For $1.2 million, buyers can get a six-bedroom house over 9,000 square feet. Townhouses in the Thomas Gardens community range from $230,000 to $320,000. “The nice part about it is you’ve got communities and subdivisions, but you also have open space,” Chaknos says. “You get both the rural and suburban feel. Farmland gives it an agricultural base, but it’s got a suburban side to it as well.”
While temperatures are moderate, the area does see winter weather, with up to 20 inches of annual snowfall.
Two golf courses and mountain hikes
Neversink Mountain Preserve features a 9-mile network of hiking trails near an old railway with elevated views of the Schuylkill River. Also nearby, Nolde Forest is a historic coniferous forest with an education center, hunting areas and 10 miles of trails. Cumru is home to two golf courses. Flying Hills Golf Course is a public course with a Par 70 layout. One of the region’s most popular courses is the LedgeRock Golf Club, a private 18-hole golf course, designed by Rees Jones to incorporate the area’s countryside terrain. “You have Nolde Forest, which is a large state park, and LedgeRock is one of the nicest courses in the state, right there in Cumru,” Chaknos says.
Nearby markets plus steak, seafood and Mediterranean places
Many retail and restaurant establishments are within 5 miles of Cumru in the southern reaches of Reading. Dans at Green Hills is a fine-dining restaurant serving multiple-course meals of steak, seafood and soup. It also has an outdoor patio surrounded by greenery. Louie's Kitchen & Bar serves smash burgers and Mediterranean fusion dishes with views of the Flying Hills Golf Course. Aldi is about 2 miles north on Cedar Top Road. The Shillington Farmers Market features more than 25 vendors with locally sourced produce, bakery items and meat within a 10-minute drive.
District includes dual enrollment and open-campus programs
The Governor Mifflin School District serves more than 4,000 students in Berks County. The district offers dual enrollment courses, including some in the fields of education and medicine. It also features an open-campus concept, incorporating remote learning to encourage work experience through internships and part-time jobs. Mifflin Park Elementary serves kindergarten to fourth grade and earns a B grade from Niche. Fifth- and sixth-graders attend Governor Mifflin Intermediate School, which receives a B-minus. Governor Mifflin Middle serves students in seventh through eighth grade and has a C-plus rating. Governor Mifflin Senior High earns a B rating, serving students from ninth to 12th grade.
Lancaster, Philly and Harrisburg are all within driving distance
The BARTA bus system makes stops along Lancaster Pike and Lancaster Avenue. The nearest emergency room is Tower Health Reading Hospital, located approximately 5 miles north of the area. The headquarters of Penske Truck Leasing is in Reading with offices in Cumru Township. “One of our main employers is Penske, from Penske Racing and Roger Penske. Its headquarters are here, so that is certainly a draw,” Chaknos says. There are multiple thoroughfares and highways connecting residents to nearby cities. Lancaster is approximately 30 miles south by taking U.S. Highway 222, and Harrisburg, the state capital, is an hour away. Philadelphia is within an hour-and-a-half drive and has an extensive international airport. Also, within an hour’s drive, Allentown is home to Lehigh Valley International Airport, about 50 miles north.
